Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kanglung Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kanglung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $97.7 in Kanglung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $161 in Kanglung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $224 in Kanglung.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1185% more expensive than in Kanglung, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Kanglung 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.49 BTN 41.12

275.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.19 BTN 100

110.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$2.23 BTN 189

271.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$2.26 BTN 191

273.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$2.15 BTN 182

396.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$2.23 BTN 188

17.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$2.26 BTN 191

-36.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$2.26 BTN 191

-13.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.20 BTN 102

74.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$1.02 BTN 85.9

0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.98 BTN 82.5

9.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$1.47 BTN 124

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$0.98 BTN 82.5

158.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,428

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$400

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kanglung: July 14, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Kanglung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Kanglung differ by about 1185% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $97.7 including rent). Kanglung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $147 in Kanglung to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 151% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $97.7 in Kanglung – a 1185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $97.7 in Kanglung versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kanglung but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Kanglung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kanglung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1185% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.